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Thursday, June 25, 2015

I love non scale victories. I bought a pair of shorts in a size 14 in early May. I was going to wear them to a ball game over Memorial Day weekend. I felt they were a bit too big so I didn't wear them. I finally got my act together and exchanged them last night for a size 12. Whoop! :) I love NSVs. Since I was at Kohl's and I'm pretty much in need of clothes, I decided to hit the dressing room. I've always wanted a long dress or a long skirt. Often they are never long enough for me, but someone told me to go to Kohl's. I don't "need' a dress or skirt, like I *need* other clothing, but I ended up buying both. And nothing else other than the swap of shorts. I gotta work on focusing on what I need. So excuse the sports bra and crappy end of day hair. . . Here's the dress:

I often think dresses make me look wide. And maybe this does a tiny bit, but I knew as soon as I put it on that I liked it! I have no idea when I will wear it, or with what bra unfortunately, but if I don't wear it by fall I'll return it. :) Please ignore the shirt here. . . .

I bought the skirt and not the shirt. I don't know if I have a top that will work for this. So it might go back too. I sound like a broken record huh? This shirt gave me no shape. As you can see I look much bigger in this photo cause you can't see any waist/hips. But the skirt is long. And I think I can find something to wear with it. I hope! I'm so not a girly girl so these purchases were almost stressful to me. But I love that you can return to Kohl's for up to a year and if it was bought on your Kohl's card you don't even need a receipt.

Monday, June 22, 2015

This weekend marked the 5th weekend of a row with a 5 mile run. That was a goal of mine - one day on the weekend is a 5 mile run. The other day is 3. Then there are various 2-3 mile runs during the week. Since I am not training for anything this is the pattern I enjoy and it doesn't take a huge commitment. It also keeps me in decent running shape and I'm not burned out like I was at the end of last year.One of my secret wishes was that the weight I've lost this year would positively impact my running pace without much real effort from me. I think that's actually happening as the pace right around 11:00 is becoming easier for me. I think before it was more like 11:20-11:40. We've had massive rains (yes this is a huge problem for those of us that farm). So it's been humid even if the temps haven't been sky high. Of course today we have a heat advisory with a heat index expected to reach 105. I saw that coming. Flood us first and then hit us with dangerous heat. Thanks mother nature.I got up Saturday morning and saw an overcast sky and decided I wasn't pressing my luck - 5 mile run - GO! I had a great run! I've been wanting to see if I could get a sub 11:00 avg pace in 5 miles and I finally did it! I will say that I busted ass on the last half mile cause I realized how close I was to making the goal. Whoop!

Sunday morning rolled around and it was a 3 mile run scheduled. I wanted to hit the pavement early cause I knew I had to clean Eli's stall and I was also going to ride him. He's been stuck inside for over a week thanks to this tropical storm we've had going on here in IL. *eye roll* So I've been working him every day with the plan that he gets today (Monday) off due to heat. I woke up Sunday morning to thunder. What the what?! More rain? Come on! I was getting ready and my husband told me it was lightening. Oh well. I said I'll call you if I want you go come and get me. I didn't really think the storm would hit us. My expert meteorological knowledge lead me to believe it would go north of me. So off I went. Run! Run fast! Beat the rain. I went out a mile and turned around. I figured I'd go back and forth on my actual road after that to get the distance so I was closer to home should something happen. When I turned around - lightening! Then more lightening that made be flinch. The rain was picking up. Umm. . . texted hubby told him where to come get me and started heading kind of away from the storm. He got me at mile 2.28. I was booking it though. I'm so bummed I couldn't get all 3 in. It might have been my fastest 5K!

So back to the house we go. I'm anal - I need to get the rest of that mile in. But how long do I wait. I decide to do Chalean Extreme during my rain delay.

Haven't I been blabbing about doing more weights? Haven't I been promising myself I'm going to build some muscle? My husband got the weights out like 2 or 3 weeks ago and there they sat. So I tell my husband I'm going to do this. . . he says the storm is past. Oh well. . . . my mind is made up. So I do Burn 1. Then I go back out and hit another mile. Holy hell! My legs felt so heavy. As you can see above that one mile is much slower. I'm so sad I couldn't finish those three miles before the storm. There's nothing like a storm coming to make you run fast! I did 3 miles that way a could years ago, before I had my Garmin and I'm pretty sure I rocked it! However the rain delay did cause me to workout more than I planned. So that's a win. And I'm *sore* today. I need to commit to continuing with this program a few times a week and see if I can get some muscle tone back. The scale is sitting still again, back in the 180-181 range unfortunately. I really would like to see 176 before I go to Canada.

Monday, June 15, 2015

I will talk more about my experience when I edit some photos from my real camera. It was fun and I'm glad I did it, but I think my expectations were much higher. Both in terms of Churchill Downs and that whole experience as well as the Triple Crown celebration and American Pharoah's "victory lap". Tell me what you think victory lap means in terms of a winning horse.Churchill Downs has "Downs After Dark" which is night racing. Apparently that's relatively new to Churchill. The track didn't have lights for quite some time I guess. This is what my friend told me. Saturday the theme was "White Party". They said "wear your best summer whites". I don't wear white. Ever. It's an invitation to spill something on myself. But I was told from a friend that lives in Louisville that I really really really should wear white. I didn't want to be the only person not in white. Hindsight is that it would have been no big deal. Friday after work I went to Gordman's and grudgingly shopped for white capris. I found an outfit. The capris were a size 12. Whoop! That made me want to buy them even if they were white. And you know what? I felt like I really rocked the outfit. I think getting ready and wearing this outfit was the most fun of the whole day. So maybe I'm mocking the jockey, but really I was thinking "yay! Look at me in my size 12 white pants!" Ha ha! :)

I honestly wish I had "hair". Like a cute hair style. But that is likely to never happen. Saturday morning I did gel it up and let it dry down. I actually wore it down all the way to Louisville. But that was all I could handle. It was a hot day and I had no desire to wear it down once I was outside. So back it went. Oh well. I got through the night without getting anything on my white pants. I have no clue why they would have a white theme at a racetrack. The seats were all dusty. I had to wipe off every seat I sat on. No way was I walking around with a dusty butt. Now the big question is how do you keep white clothing white? Do I wash these or get them dry cleaned? I try not to buy white t-shirts cause I feel like over time they get dingy from washing. I won't wear these much I'm sure so maybe washing will be fine. Any advice peeps? What products to use? They are so comfortable and cute. Maybe I'll wear them to a ballgame or something.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Churchill Downs baby!!!! To see American Pharoah! I found out earlier this week that there is a Triple Crown celebration going on at the races tomorrow night. I have a friend that loves racing way more than me. She follows it all year. I follow the crown races. So after much debate and feelings of guilt on my part, I decided to skip helping at the horse show at my barn as well a surprise 50th birthday party. I'm going to partake in a small part of history! Apparently the triple crown winner takes a victory lap at their home track. Who knew? Certainly not me since the last one was before I was born. But I figure who knows when the next triple crown will happen (though I wonder if we won't have a few winners in the coming years - they sometimes seem to come in spurts as there was 3 in the 1970s) and who knows if the winning horse's home track will be so close to me. Louisville is 4 hours from me. So yesterday we booked a hotel (fingers crossed that it isn't crappy) and we bought reserved seating for the races. I'm so excited! I have never been to the races at Churchill. As a matter of fact, the only time I've been to Churchill was at around mile 8 (I think!) of my half marathon last year. We ran through the infield. Though since I'd never been there we took a walk break to enjoy it. So this will be super exciting. I don't normally do impromptu stuff like this. I also don't bail on commitments. But after talking to a few people (my husband, my mom, anyone that would listen) I decided that I'd regret not going to see this. So off we go!

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

I've just been so tired lately. It started when I got sick last week. I had a cold/sinus/allergies or something like that and it slammed me. I have a runny nose occasionally still, but my eyes are so fatigued. They just want to be closed. I thought maybe it's allergies. I took zyrtec the last 2 days but didn't notice much difference. Last night my husband and I both fell asleep in the living room by 8 pm. It's very strange for him to fall asleep like that. But it did help both of us with our evening snacking issue! I think if this continues to next week I'll make a Dr appt. Might be time to check my thyroid anyways. I don't know if my weigh loss will affect the dosage of the meds. I've kind of been waiting to hit 175 before I pursue that. Speaking of weight. . . I clocked in my lowest of the year.

Small little happy dance. 175 truly is my goal for now. I want to see what I look like and how I feel. Getting closer! :)

I've made a different smoothie than normal this week. Usually I use a chocolate protein powder, banana, ice and almond milk. This week I've been using my Advocare Vanilla Meal Replacement Shake, almond milk, berries and ice. Yum! I make a huge breakfast smoothie.

32 oz bubba there! :) It's great. I sip on it at work in the AM. And then I freeze my ass off cause it's cold in the my office *and* the smoothie makes me colder for at least 30 mins after drinking it. (yes that's my Yadi bobblehead peeking over my cup!)

My car is in the shop. I need new tie rods apparently. I don't pretend to know what that is. My husband's friend is a mechanic. And apparently Toyota makes replacing the *inner* tie rods a bitch. They won't sell them separately but they want you to buy the big huge thing they are attached to. Yes I'm a girl and I don't know what I'm talking about. What I do know is that inner tie rods run about $35-ish a piece. And this big huge part runs about $900. So we are actually trying to replace just the tie rods if it works. Fingers crossed! They should be in today. I hope to have my car back no later than tomorrow. So I'm driving our truck. It's a 3/4 ton Dodge Ram. My work parking lot is so small it's kind of a PITA to park it. I like driving it when my horse trailer is attached, but to just drive it as a regular vehicle - it's just too big. I also drive it slower because of the size I guess. . . so it takes me longer to get to work. Yesterday when I got to the barn I took my ring off and thought it looked pretty in the little place I found in the truck to stash it.

I'm sure I've mentioned it before. I bought that as a reward a few years ago when I got out of the 200's. I won't let myself wear it if I weight 200 or above. It's a ONEDERLAND ring :) I often wear it as a wedding band because it's easier to wear than my wedding set. And since I take rings off everyday when I get to the barn, it's easier to take off one than three. I'm so thrilled to be wearing it almost daily now. It was probably a whole year that I was in the 200's and that baby sat in my jewelry box.

Monday, June 8, 2015

For the first time since the year I was born there is a Triple Crown winner! This is the first winner in my lifetime. I actually wondered if it would ever happen?!I'm not a huge racing fan. I think horses are raced too young and at the lower level tracks they are treated like crap. That being said, I own my very own ex-racehorse.

Eli was raced 22 times and he won twice. I think I remember those facts correctly. :) On Saturday we were at my parents house for shooting party/ BBQ. I set the alarm on my phone to get in the house in time to see the race. So far that's all that I've seen. No pre or post show. Not even many facts about the race. I really honestly couldn't believe he won. I have watched the triple crown series for several years now. Holding my breath I watch every year hoping beyond hope that the contender will win. This year during the KY Derby, the announcers had said that all the trainers were chattering that American Pharoah could win the crown. He must just impress everyone that much. On Saturday I went into my parents house and sat at the kitchen table to watch the race. My little 4 year old nephew came along and I got him to watch them load the horses. About 30-40 secs into the race he was leaving. . . short attention span you know. I started standing up and jumping up and down. My mom said my nephew came running back into the house to jump and scream with me. She said he would look at me and as long as I was jumping and screaming so was he. :) I told him that in 20 years when there still isn't another triple crown winner that maybe, just maybe, he will remember watching this race with me. There is chatter that American Pharoah will race again - potentially 2 more times this year. I know the Breeder's Cup is prestigious and that is one that is mentioned. I really would let him retire. I'm a big fan of going out on top. I wouldn't want him to get beat. He just did what no horse has done (and many have tried) in 37 years. Let him make babies. But above that, the risk of injury. . . the world would just be heartbroken if something happened to him. I'd just protect that boy in bubble wrap. He has enough to do with breeding. If I'm correct, Thoroughbreds (in order to be registered with The Jockey Club and therefore be eligible to race) still need to be made live and in person with the mom and dad. They can't do it artificially. That poses enough risk. If I were the owner I think Saturday would have been his last race.This weekend I was shopping with my mom and we ran into my sister in law and her kids. My nephew wanted to come with us. So with a swap of car seat we were on our way. We made one more stop at a grocery story. When I grabbed the shorty cart he told me that it was a funny cart! My mom took this photo and it's interesting to me to see a full body shot of myself. I wish I could freeze myself from the waist up and just lose from the waist down. My poor nephew is wearing his t-ball uniform and I have no clue why his shirt is so freaking huge.

I'm back at 180.2 for the last two days. It was eating at the BBQ at my parent's house that did it I think. But that's ok. I'm going to buckle down. . . I really would like to see 35 pounds lost. I have a fun photo idea for that next milestone.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

I saw the number I needed on the scale on Sunday morning. I saw 180.8 (I needed 181). But I didn't quite believe it. I didn't believe it cause I had to get on the scale multiple times to get the same number twice. I hate that, but I took a photo. I did my fat monitor. Just didn't quite want to shout it out. Then Monday I bumped up a bit and remained the same on Tuesday. I kind of, sort of, maybe chalked that up to being my time of the month. I was not feeling well due to cold weather making me sick. I felt like poop most of Monday and Tuesday so I honestly didn't care what the scale said. No joke! Then today I got on . . . I got on 4 times. . . . *all* four times the same weight. . .

Holy 170's!!!! WHOOOOOOOP!!!!!!!! That's a loss of 31.4 lbs since Jan 7th. When I started Advocare in January I had hopes for success. I had a plan B. Have I ever talked about that here? I was going to do HCG again if Advocare failed. I had talked to my Dr about it last fall and said I wanted to do it in the new year. But I decided to give Advocare a try cause I wasn't in the mental state for HCG. I'm SO glad I did. I'm beyond glad I did. This is much healthier and really much easier cause I can EAT! I struggle. I talk about that here. I probably minimize it a little bit, but the struggle is real. Yesterday I ate sugar - chocolate covered raisins. I'm not perfect. I have weaknesses and bad moments. But I never ever dreamed that I'd see the 170's in JUNE. I had hoped to see this weight by the end of the year. I cannot tell you all how excited I am. I'm looking forward to the rest of the year and trying to formulate a plan to keep this progress going. Not necessarily the scale progress, but I need to get off my lazy butt and do some weights. I need some muscle tone! I keep saying it and I don't do it. I just hope that this isn't a fluke and that scale doesn't skyrocket tomorrow morning. :)

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

I have an inner fatty. I think if you've been a fat girl (I still consider myself a fat girl), then you have an inner fatty. I didn't get fat cause I loved healthy food. I got fat cause I loved unhealthy food. I still love unhealthy food. In Dec 2013 a friend that I met via FB was chatting with me and she said "I saw that you said you did a long run so you can have a cupcake. It doesn't work that way". I think I was in denial. My reply is that I know. That I know people over estimate calories burned and then eat too much. I wasn't eating a cupcake after every long run. . . .was I? I don't know. What I do know was I eating too much crap. I know that all through 2014 I pretty much did a good job of maintaining weight. . . creeping up slowly, but not a ton. Running and then eating a cupcake is probably a fine (but unhealthy) way to maintain weight. I want to lose weight. I want to be healthy. Will I eat a cupcake? Yes. I'm sorry but I don't have superhero willpower. But I will not eat them as often. Every weekend is not a special occasion. Special occasions are birthday parties, holidays, maybe a date night. They are not Saturday and Sunday. They are not long run days. But the battle is real. I fight a mental battle with myself almost every day. Sometimes hourly. Right now it's 11:20 AM. I want this Advocare DB9 bar that I have at my desk. There's nothing wrong with eating it. The various advocare bars are part of my lifestyle now. But I don't *need* it. Lunch is soon. Soon enough. I don't need this snack. I had a peach and cashews as my morning snack. But I like snacks. Bad or otherwise. If there was chocolate in my desk I'd want that. Heck it's that time of the month - I want chocolate. I want cupcakes. The DB9 bar is what I have access to, so I want it. The struggle is constant. I can't imagine that it won't be. I have a sweet tooth. I have an inner fatty. I'm trying to shut her up. I'm making progress. I'm learning a lot this year. I see what impact one bad choice has. I see how much I've improved and how much room there is for improvement. I don't pretend that I'm perfect. Perfection is not my goal. Healthier choices 99% of the time is my goal. Choices that get me to my weight/size/fat%/etc goals is what I am doing, what I need to do, what I need to keep doing. I hope that I'm motivating others on the way. I'm a true believer that if I can do it, anyone can do it. I do not have some crazy strong willpower. I fight my sweet tooth every day. I fight the inner fatty that says "just one cupcake". Progress is happening.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Oh gosh. . . I'm so discouraged by the scale. Up and down. . .the same 2 lbs basically. This weekend I saw the 30 lbs lost mark. . . but my scale was goofy. It took like 6 attempts to get two weights of the same number. So scrap that. I'll wait till I really believe it. Yesterday I measured. I needed some motivation.Total lost since May 9th (that was the end of my last cleanse and the last time I measured)Chest: -2 inches (really? goodness. I don't need or want to lose my chest!)Waist: - 1 inchHips: -1 inchThigh: -0.5 inchMy totals since the beginning of the year when I first started Advocare:Chest: -4 inchesWaist: -5 inchesHips: -6 inches (I freaking LOVE this! That's my problem area)Thigh: -3.5 inchesThe scale doesn't show it all, but gosh darn it if I won't do a happy dance when I see that 30 lbs mark for realz.Sunday I did my first real 5 mile run (ran the whole thing) in a long long time.

I cannot freaking tell you how good this felt! Whoop! I had negative splits! Holy crap. I never have that on a 5 mile run. It was cold! It was like 58 when I started my run. Breezy too. I had a head wind from miles 0.5-1.5. That was kind of a struggle and might explain the slower miles 1 and 2. Normally my first mile would be below 11:00. Funny how running into the wind can be tough, but when it's a tail wind, I can't feel nothing and it sure doesn't feel like it pushes me on! This was one of those runs that felt so steady and strong. Just very rhythmic. I LOVE those. I was flying high after this run. I've been taking Advocare's 02 Gold before my runs on the weekend. People call it a 3rd lung. I haven't quite got the timing down - you are suppose to take it an hour before you run. I'm usually out the door well within that first hour that I'm awake. That being said I do feel like it helps and it's on my list to reorder this week. I don't tend to keep using things that I feel don't work. So there's something going on!I don't think I mentioned this here, but this past week I had Brussels Sprouts for the first time. In my life. First time ever. I loved them. Of course they were made with pork belly and might have been fried to some capacity. I tried to roast some last night with oil and balsamic vinegar.

They were ok. I'm going to keep trying. If you have a recipe that rocks, please share it with me.